The actual set-up for this ceremony may vary a little from Ryu to Ryu (School/Club) depending on the hall arrangements but the commands used should be the same.

In the bowing ceremony students are lined up in order of rank from highest to lowest (the highest being closest to the black belts) along one side of the tatami opposite the Shomen (the place of honour or front). Black belt members are lined up along one side of the tatami (with the highest rank closest to the Shomen), whilst the Sensei (and on any occasion when one is present, the Shihan) occupies the area of the tatami in front of the Shomen of the dojo. Once everyone has settled and is in the seiza position, the highest graded student or a black belt nominated by the Sensei will issue the required commands in the following order for a series of bows:

Shomen Ni Rei
Shihan Ni Rei (only on occasions when a Shihan is present)
Sensei Ni Rei
Ota Gai Ni Rei

Shomen Ni Rei - (showmen-knee-ray)

Bow to the Place of Honour

Quite often you will find that placed in the Shomen are the flag of the country or the emblem of the parent organisation, a photo of the originator of the Martial Art and/or our Masters. So here we are paying respect and extending our loyalty to our country, our Association and our founders and Masters without whose influence and teaching we would not be learning this Martial Art.

Shihan Ni Rei - (she-han-knee-ray)
(Only on occasions when a Shihan is present)

Bow to Shihan

The student should remember to lower his or her head in a bow before the master does and to raise his or her own head only after the master has, before returning to the original seiza position. (This is a form of respect and courtesy). Here we pay respect to a master of our Art or, in his absence, the highest graded rank who acts on his behalf..

Sensei Ni Rei - (sen-say-knee-ray)

Bow to Sensei

One must pay respect to one's Sensei as the Instructor of the class. Occasionally, a visiting black belt, high-ranking official or guest attends the Ryu, so we pay respect to them here as well, following the bowing procedure as described above (when directed to do so by the Sensei in charge at the time) and then returning to the original seiza position.

Ota Gai Ni Rei - (otta-guy-knee-ray)

Bow to each other

Finally is the exchange of bows between student and master grades where we all pay respect to each other.

In this way respect is paid to all within the dojo and sets the scene for the training to come.